Newsletter 08/24
Upcoming: The Taylor Wessing Photo Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The Taylor Wessing Photo Prize is an international competition that celebrates and promotes excellence in contemporary portrait photography.
Earlier this year, I submitted some of my recent works to the competition and I am thrilled to announce that my portrait of Roosje was selected for the group exhibition.
My portrait will be displayed alongside works of other talented artists from November 14th, 2024, to February 16th, 2025, at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The competition received a total of 4,847 entries from 1,713 photographers across 50 countries. Of these, 380 entries moved on to the second round of judging and the judges ultimately selected 63 works for the exhibition.
In January 2024, I read an article in the PZC regional newspaper about Roosje, a 91-year-old woman. The article detailed her life and her extensive collection of antiques, immediately sparking my interest. I decided to visit her in Middelburg, a small city in the south of the Netherlands.
I was captivated by her immense collection of antique dolls. Roosje frequently visits antique markets, using her charm to secure the best deals. She often wishes she had more space to expand her collection.
The image chosen for the exhibition shows Roosje sitting on her living room couch, which primarily serves as a display area for her dolls. As she has aged, the number of visitors she receives has decreased, leading to her collection growing even larger.
Roosje’s childlike enthusiasm is infectious. She leaves her house daily and is a well-known figure in Middelburg. Her striking appearance and fairy-tale decor have made her a regular feature in newspapers and on television.
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